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Chinese Medicine And The Use Of Snake Oil

hosnee — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:39:36 +0000

Talk about snake oil, and you will most likely think about traveling conmen who used to visit the various villages and townships as they were eked out of the dusty sands and green prairies by settlers. With promises of longevity, virility, fertility, and lasting beauty, these dubious purveyors of remedies would sell commonly useless concoctions with fantastic claims. Frequently borrowing heavily from the lore and scientific achievements of far away countries that most early Americans only knew to exist from books, the traveling conmen would claim to either be trained in the secrets of these medical breakthroughs by dying Chinese mystics, lone Native American raiders, or the famed writings of Arabic princes and Egyptian pharaohs made available to the learned in far away England.

Take for example Clark Stanley from Abilene. Even though he came at the tail end of the snake oil movement, this self proclaimed rattlesnake king made an act of charming, killing and then turning his rattlesnakes into the famous snake oil. Allegedly following a secret recipe passed on by a Moki medicine man, he set up his production of the substance in a grand scale.

It is important to understand that snake oil is actually a Chinese medicine that has long since been known to help with the symptoms of arthritis. It reached America when Chinese laborers would come to work for the railroad industry and bring with them their foreign concoctions. Since many white doctors would not touch those they believed to be “yellow”, the Chinese laborers had to rely on their own remedies. In many cases they would share their cures and ointments with other laborers, irrespective of skin color. Thus the efficacy of snake oil was a known fact.

Back to Mr. Stanley from Abilene, when his concoction was analyzed, it was found to be little more than mineral oil and beet fat. The real thing, on the other hand, is known to contain only two ingredients: camphor and the oil of the Chinese water snake. Modern usage of the snake oil has found that it may quite possibly be the camphor and no so much the oil of the snakes that is contributing to the relief of pain associated with arthritis. This is not to say that there is no value to the actual rendered oil of the snakes. As a matter of fact, they may quite possibly be able to penetrate the skin and act on the area of the inflammation. Yet even in the best of scenarios, the relief experienced is only temporary.

Obviously this is a far cry from the promised cures the snake oil salesmen claimed to sell. Chinese medicine and the use of snake oil is a premier example of the somewhat unlucky combination of rudimentary understanding of a foreign medical concept, American enterprise, greed, and the gullibility of crowds who are willing to believe anything if sold properly. Sadly, the term snake oil is now known as a pejorative, thus eliminating it from the list of known pain medicines and not only giving alternative medicine a bad name in general, but traditional Chinese medicine in particular.

Is Fire Cupping A Safe Modality Of Chinese Medicine

hosnee — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:56:36 +0000

Adherents to traditional Chinese medicine who suffer from recurring bronchitis and other lung related ailments which do not seem to respond well to nutritional regimens, herbal supplementation or other approaches will frequently resort to the practice of fire cupping. Yet for Westerners, especially the somewhat squeamish set, the question that is frequently being asked is simple: is fire cupping a safe modality of Chinese medicine? Thus, should it be taught Chinese medicine training centers and should novice healers have the permission to attempt the practice on test subjects – albeit it willing participants?

In its simplest form, fire cupping refers to the generation of a vacuum on the patient’s skin by using a cup, jar, or other implement, quite often made of glass in modern Chinese medicine applications, which is heated with an open flame to provide a temperature difference between the air inside the cup and the air on the outside – which enables the creation of the vacuum. Since the heat is only short lived, the skin is slightly raised within the rim of the glass or cup. The philosophy behind the practice rests on the thought that this form of pressure point manipulation will restore the free flow of the qi, the life force or bodily energy that is found in every living human being.

Detractors of the practice warn against the use of kerosene on the bottom of the cups which are generally swabbed with a flammable substance to aid in the heating process while lessening the amount of time that the heat must be applied to the vessel. This is supposed to prevent the cup from overheating and causing a burn on the skin of the patient. Unfortunately, the use of kerosene has led to severe allergic reactions on the skin of some people and thus is not usually recommended.

When the rim of the cup is not prepared with an accelerant, the heating process is prolonged and the possibility of leaving a burn on the patient’s body is increased. The practice of using a small portion of flammable material directly on the patient’s skin with little more than a thin barrier to shield the skin from damage is even more dangerous. Even though the theory behind this practice adequately takes into account the fact that the lack of oxygen under the cup will cause the fire to go out, a bigger glass will contain more oxygen and thus the potential for the fire burning through the barrier and proceeding to burn the skin is high.

Whether or not fire cupping is a safe modality of Chinese medicine is not a question that will ever be answered succinctly by either proponents or opponents. Highly trained practitioners succeed in treating their patients with a minimum of burns or even skin irritation brought on by accelerants that may be employed. Opponents of the practice will forever point to the angry red marks left after the treatment, some of which will result in sunburn like pealing, and in some cases may even lead to scarring. Similarly, since the skin pores are opened to a larger degree in those areas of the skin, pimples and acne may focus on these portions of the skin, leading to the creation of eczema like circles.

Beware Chinese Medicine Quackery

hosnee — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:26:36 +0000

Even as Chinese medicine is finally entering the mainstream of Western thinking and also medical treatment options, the sad reality points out that there is a lot of quackery being done in the name of Chinese medicine. This, of course, greatly detracts from the positive aspects of the discipline and erodes the gradually building trust Western patients are developing for the age old practice that is part and parcel of everyday life in China.

There are some clear indicators that a practitioner who professes allegiance to traditional Chinese medicine is quite possibly a quack:

* The cleanliness of the therapist’s place of practice is questionable. Hygiene has long since been known to be of importance in Chinese medicine and while you should not expect a sterile environment that smells of the harsh chemical cleaners many a doctor’s office uses, you also should not see grime and dust everywhere.

* If the therapist promises you a guaranteed cure in exchange for payment, be suspicious. Common sense should alert you to the fact that in medicine there are no absolutes and there is always the odd exception for each and every rule. Herbs that are known to treat migraines and other headaches may be effective in nine out of ten cases, but there is always the one case where the herbs will not perform as expected. Just as each person is different, so are the health challenges they experience and their response to herbs, supplements, and other treatment modalities.

* Stay away from agreeing to a certain number of treatments in exchange for a break on the cost. Who is to say that you really need to visit the therapist 10 times, when you may feel markedly better after only four visits? These agreements are usually drawn up in the form of legally binding contracts and you will still have to pay the money, even if you no longer visit the practitioner or decide that you do not feel comfortable working with her or him for any number of reasons.

* If you choose to undergo acupuncture, it is of vital importance that the needles used are clean. Regulated by various health agencies, there is an entire protocol written which seeks to guarantee the cleanliness of acupuncture equipment, including needles, yet it is sad to say that not every practitioner of Chinese medicine will follow the protocol. Failures to heed the warnings which are at the root of the cleanliness movement have led to the patient to patient transmission of infectious disease.

* Prior to selecting a practitioner, educate yourself on the treatment you are about to under go and the various components that factor into it. This means that you will be able to spot quickly and decisively whether the therapist is using a lot of mumbo jumbo in an effort to impress you or if the person is right on and straight forward in technique and assessment.

* Believe it or not, but the Better Business Bureau is also a great place to check out practitioners and clinics to find out if there are any complaints lodged against them and what the nature of these complaints may be.

Chinese Medicine Education

hosnee — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:46:36 +0000

In China the combination of art, science, and spirituality that in its combination makes up the bulk of traditional Chinese medicine can be learned at many an institution of higher learning. In addition to the foregoing, there are ample opportunities to apprentice with a learned and experienced healer who will pass on not only the nuts and bolts of what makes this medical approach work, but also imbues the adept with an almost instinctual understanding of the body’s condition. Chinese medicine education in the United States, however, is a much more difficult proposition.

Even as the recent decades of the New Age movement and the search for alternative forms of healing have swept the country by storm, the number of properly trained practitioners is woefully small. Sure, there are a number of might have traveled to China to spend a few weeks or maybe even months with a folk healer, and in some cases you may have immigrants to the States who were classically trained, yet by and large the overwhelming majority of training thus far received is either book knowledge or an Internet correspondence course from a school with untraceable accreditation.

To counteract this lack of training, quite a few trade schools have entered the fray and seek to teach acupressure, herbal healing, and also the more odd modalities like fire cupping. One of the greatest obstacles to learning the craft of Chinese medicine is surprisingly not the venues, however, but instead the fact that many a Westerner is not able to make the mind and body connection to the extent necessary to become a great – not just passable – healer.

Chinese medicine education is generally speaking embarked upon by either those who were exposed to a successful treatment, usually they themselves experienced the healing this form of medicine had to offer them, or by those who hope to cash in on a growing movement. While the latter may be honest, it will also make for a practitioner with little compassion and a lagging sense of spirituality that will connect her or him to patients, the body’s life force, and the surrounding nature. In the case of the former it is noteworthy to state that even though gratitude is a great motivator, it may not always be enough to propel someone toward a life of serving others.

If you are looking to enter the field of Chinese medicine, education is best undergone under a master as an apprentice. Find out where this healer studied and seek to attend the same school. Contact your municipality and understand the licensing requirements for healers in your area. This may require you to take an additional course of study at an accredited institution of higher learning in your area. Even as there you will learn the Westernized version of Chinese medicine, with the help of the healer you will learn the pure Chinese version. A successful blend of the two will then enable you to practice in the United States but also in China, once your training is completed.

Why Does Acupuncture Work

hosnee — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:54:36 +0000

Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on centuries of mapping out the subtle underlying networks that comprise the human body. There are systems that are obvious like the nervous system, the respiratory system, the endocrine system, the circulatory system and the lymphatic system. These are the systems that western medicine concentrates on when making diagnoses and when prescribing treatment. Beyond these systems are networks that form interrelationships between these systems that operate on a cellular level within the body.

Chinese practitioners and researchers have used these networks to map out acupuncture points that when stimulated set off positive changes within the body that promote healing.

During acupuncture, it has been shown by computer imaging of the brain that when the acupuncture point is stimulated, an increase in endorphins occurs that then activates the immune and endocrine systems.

Various acupuncture points are chosen to achieve desired results such as relief of pain, reducing stress and increasing vitality.

The needles used in acupuncture are fine high quality needles that are used only once. They are pre-sterilized and disposable to help prevent possible infection at the insertion point. Those patients who are needle phobic can ask the practitioner about needle alternatives such as acupressure.

Acupuncture works because it is a science that is based on bodily functions and the network of energetic meridians that target specific points of the body. It is because acupuncture is based on the science of location of meridians and what stimulating these points will achieve regarding the restoration of harmony that the results have been consistent. It is the consistency of the results that have given acupuncture the recognition it has received in medical society today, both the Chinese and western medical societies.

Acupuncture works because the technique is not just to insert, but to stimulate, or manipulate based on the desired effect. The acupuncturists are trained to know how long to leave the needle in (10 minutes to 1 hour) and how to stimulate the point or manipulate it to achieve tonification, nourishment, to strengthen, drain or subdue.

Electrical stimulation may also be used during the acupuncture treatment. The current is low and usually battery generated.

Treatment duration varies depending on the diagnosis and the severity of the condition. Some treatments are effective after one or more treatments and some ailments can take months or even years to maintain the condition.

One theory as to why acupuncture works was initiated in 1965 and is called the “Gate Theory of Pain”. The theory explains that there are mechanisms that perceive and transmit pain through the nervous system and that very specific nerve fibers transmit pain to the spinal cord. There are other nerve fibers that inhibit the transmission of pain. These two groups of nerve fibers meet at a place called the substancia gelatinosa.

The gateway theory proposes that there is a balance of the pain fibers that inhibit the perception of pain and the fibers that perceive pain. These can be overridden through acupuncture because acupuncture excites the pain inhibitory nerve fibers for a short duration of time thus blocking the perception of pain. The effects of acupuncture can last for months after the needle is removed.

Another theory used to explain the effectiveness of acupuncture is that of “counter-pain”. When the body experiences pain in another region it does not perceive the pain in a different region. This may explain mild pain, but is not very valid for severe pain or long-term pain.

Using Tenets Of Chinese Medicine To Improve Mental Health Conditions

hosnee — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:32:36 +0000

Chinese medicine has long since been known to achieve astonishing results in the healing of illnesses and also management of pain. This is perhaps the most important reason why many a Westerner who is disillusioned with the kinds of medicines prescribed by their physicians will look for new options to explore. The side effects of the medications currently in use to cure anything from blood pressure to high cholesterol are at times so severe that they may cause other health concerns which then in turn will quite possibly require medications. To escape this vicious cycle, the combined modalities of Chinese medicine are oftentimes looked at as an acceptable alternative.

Yet one area of medicine where side effects are not only physical in nature but ay quite literally drive you crazy is the realm of psychiatry and drug assisted psychotherapy. Side effects of psychotropic drugs are the number one cited reason for those in need of psychiatric care refusing to undergo treatment. Granted, a certain amount of trial and error is required to find the right medicine and also the right dosage, but in some cases the severity of the side effects has worsened the conditions at hand.

Nor surprisingly, using tenets of Chinese medicine to improve mental health conditions is gaining popularity in the West, and for those who have not considered this path before, the contemplation of the holistic approach most certainly bears a try. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other problems have long since been treated with Chinese medicine as they have been recognized for the imbalances within the person that they are. Combining meditation, nutritional counseling, acupuncture if needed, and also herbal supplementation, the entire body will undergo a healing touch.

It is this very combination of modalities that is able to help the body and mind once again enjoy the harmony it so desperately needs. Unfortunately, using tenets of Chinese medicine to improve health conditions has led many a Westerner to completely discount the value of Western psychotherapy and therein lays the biggest danger. Some disorders that are currently managed well by medication will not respond as well to a complete and abrupt change in regimen. Similarly, stopping medications may actually pose a danger not only to the patient but also to those around her or him.

The best approach will be a combination of the two disciplines – one that is closely monitored not only by a psychiatrist but also by a practitioner of Chinese medicine. In the best care scenario, both health care providers will work together to affect the patient’s healing with a minimum of discomfort and a maximum of a whole body and mind approach.

Patients need to be aware that if at any point they feel like they are falling back into destructive patterns, or if others point out a decline in the mental health of habits thus far modified, it is time to reevaluate the effectiveness of the current approach and either gradually change course or simply tweak it a bit to make it more effective. This requires complete honesty of the patient to both psychiatrist and practitioner of Chinese medicine.

The Components Of Traditional Chinese Medicine

hosnee — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:41:36 +0000

When you hear the words Chinese medicine, most people will think of acupuncture. Chinese medicine is so much more than acupuncture. The major components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the clinical diagnostics that go into discovering the causes of disharmony within the body and herbal medicine which is a therapy used by Chinese practitioners to treat certain illnesses and conditions and is also used as a preventative or strengthener.

Qi is very important to Chinese medicine because it is the basic component that is responsible for the metabolic processes and physiological events of the human body. It is the “energy” that drives the functioning of the body. There are 5 basic functions that Qi’s actions perform.

The 5 basic functions that Qi’s actions perform are warming, transforming, propelling, defending and lastly securing and containing.

Qi warms the body by regulating temperature needs of the body.

Qi transforms by turning food we ingest into nourishment for our body or into waste products.

Qi propells by initiating all of life’s growth and development needs of each individual organ within the body. Needs such as maturation of the sex organs, monthly menarche, and the ever present heartbeat.

Qi defends the body from pathogenic invadors. Recurring illnesses are a sign that this particular function is weak and in need of reinforcement by way of Chinese medicine.

Qi secures and contains by keeping all of the body’s functions as they should be for optimum health. This function keeps blood flowing and blood vessels working properly. It also keeps organs like the stomach and uterus from prolapsing.

The Chinese medical practitioner pays attention to the Qi functions in order to diagnose the patient and as a guide to getting the body healthy again by restoring balance and harmony when it contains illness.

There are several components to Chinese medicine besides Qi, the practice of Chinese medicine concentrates on restoring and maintaining balance in the human being in body, mind and in spirit. The Chinese medical practitioner seeks to heal not only the physical body, but the emotional and spiritual body as well.

Chinese medicine uses a combination of diagnostic techniques, herbal therapy and methods such as acupuncture, acupressure, and others in combinations that are based on individual need. There is no one pat treatment for any one illness or condition. Two patients suffering from the same unbalance (disease) may be prescribed two different treatment combinations as the causes of their symptoms may be different even though the result is the same illness or condition. This idea of individualized treatment is a very important component of Chinese medicine and is what makes it vastly different from western medical practices.

One vital component of Chinese medicine is that of understanding that the underlying cause of a disease or condition may have both a root and branch to the disease. The root is what causes the disease or condition and the branch develops from that root and is responsible for the obvious manifestations of that disease or condition.

A good example of this is cancer. The root cause of cancer is the yang deficiency, which depletes the energy needed to carry out bodily functions. The branch manifestation is in the fact that because of the root cause (lack of energy) fluid is allowed to build up, forming local masses or excess in organ structure (tumors). Tumors of both benign and malignant follow this pattern.

The components of root and branch can present special concerns as treating one may aggravate the other and will require a skilled Chinese medical practitioner to address both the root and branch in a manner that will restore both to health without causing aggravation to either of them. The skill needed is in both diagnosing and treating with proper herbal remedies.

When Chinese Medicine Makes The Five O’clock News

hosnee — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:34:36 +0000

In the Western world, Chinese medicine is a bit of an enigma. Surrounded by lore, frequently imbued with mystical powers – usually at the behest of the Hollywood producers – and sometimes utilized to make the squeamish squirm, it is the kind of practice that has its fair share of supporters, detractors, and then those who are unsure. It is the latter set that is frequently swayed by negative reports, warnings, online hoaxes, and of course the time when Chinese medicine makes the five o’clock news.

The latter happened in the month of November, 2007 when a popular tonic made from the famously infamous caterpillar fungus was found to be tainted by microbes. The caterpillar fungus is a bit of an oddity. In Chinese medicine it is considered the perfect example of the harmony that exists between Yin and Yang, since it involves an animal and a plant, albeit a fungus which in the Western understanding is something else entirely but to the Chinese herbalist does not matter.

The caterpillar is of a popular moth living in the Tibetan highlands; prior to pupation it lives underground for about five years where it eats roots. It is during this time period that it is highly susceptible to being infected with a certain fungal spore which takes root inside the caterpillar. As the fungus grows inside the caterpillar, it slowly kills its host until the caterpillar stops moving and dies. It is at this point that the fungus unerringly outgrows the caterpillar mummy from its head and breaks through the soil. It is this visible sign of the fruiting fungus that sends collectors to dig up both caterpillar and fungus.

The uses of the caterpillar fungus are diverse; some use it for overall wellness, since it is the perfect harmony of Yin and Yang. Others specifically believe in its healing powers with regard to virility. Even though there are several countries where import of tonics made from the caterpillar fungus is considered illegal, the underground market is thriving and finding the concoction is not hard.

The danger the unsuspecting user faced from the recently reported microbial contamination is a serious infection which may worsen the ailments the tonic was thought to treat. Since many patients who rely on the medicinal powers of the caterpillar fungus are unlikely to come forward and admit to its use, the serious health related ramifications are enormous and patients are warned to check the batch numbers on the bottles they may have purchased. While this may be of a small effectiveness, the vast majority of these supplements are sold either singly or in discrete envelopes.

When occasions such as these cause Chinese medicine to make the evening news, it gives those not intimately involved in the practice a wrong understanding of the modalities involved. Do not be discouraged if this is you! Instead, seek out the advice of a reputable practitioner of Chinese medicine and gradually ease your way into understanding the philosophy behind the medicinal practices. Within this context you will quickly learn that even if the occasional fluke does happen, it is in now way a reflection on the whole system.

Chinese Medicine Capitalizes On Millennia Of Tradition

hosnee — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:32:36 +0000

Unlike modern Western medicine that revels in the ability of drug companies and research firms to find medicinal cures and treatments for a plethora of ailments in time spans commonly measured in fiscal quarters, Chinese medicine capitalizes on millennia of tradition. Think of this wellness system as a pyramid wherein a number of incidental findings and accidental revelations were banded together, summarized, cataloged, relationship checked, and gradually crystallized.

The end result is a body of Chinese medicine that is not so much cure oriented as it is process and wellness focused. To this end, the discipline does not allow itself to be summarized in a few prescriptions but much rather must be viewed in context as a body of findings, some of which resulted from trial and error, while others were the results of cunning reasoning and a growing understanding of the human body, nature, and the way both harmonized. In contrast to pill, tablet, and injection focused Western medicine, Chinese medicine is thought of as a collection of approaches which may need to be employed jointly or separately, depending on the individual’s response to one or more aspects of the treatment being offered. Thus, there are a number of branches which have pronged from what is today collectively considered to be under the auspices of traditional Chinese medicine:

* Herbal healing but also promotion of overall wellbeing with the help of plants.

* Physical manipulation of nerve centers via acupuncture

* Stimulation of bodily strength and facilities through massage.

* Breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that seek to reestablish the harmony that exists between the person and the world around her or him.

* Spiritual awareness and application.

It is interesting to note that even as Chinese medicine capitalizes on millennia of tradition, it is also the recipient of timeless philosophical thoughts, spiritual awakenings, and furthermore is heavily influenced by medicinal understanding and thought processes of the warring nations throughout the ages – many of which have come in contact with the Chinese at one point or another. Much like osmosis, Chinese medicine has always made use of that which was around the understanding of the practitioner of her or his time period, at time summarily rejection or embracing new schools of thought. The resulting body of medicinal knowledge and time honored practice has left many a Westerner stunned by the complexity of the knowledge amasses and also the seemingly endless interlocking of different disciplines. Given the modern goal oriented way of thinking, it is hard for those thoroughly embroiled in the Western mode of medicinal practice to step back and acknowledge or at least understand the methodology employed by traditional Chinese practitioners.

Of course, how does one gain an understanding of a body of medicine that relies on the painstaking cultivation of certain plants, research of their properties, and then attempts at combination with other substances, some of which took hundreds of years to accomplish? In the same vein, how does one leave behind the tried and true path of pill popping – even though it is only a few decades old – and trust the power of the earth?

Chinese Herbal Therapy

hosnee — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:02:36 +0000

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to treat various diseases and conditions as well as to prevent illness. Each herb has its own properties and a knowledgeable herbalist or practitioner must be consulted when herbs are being used.

Herbs have properties that include energy, flavour, and its movement as related to meridians that it connects to. There are 4 types of energies – cold, cool, warm and hot. Herbs that are cold or cool are used to treat fever, thirst, sore throat and in general for heat diseases. Herbs that are hot or warm are used to treat limbs that are cold, for cold pain and in general for cold diseases. The 5 flavours of herbs are bitter, pungent, salty, sour or sweet.

Pungent herbs are used to induce sweat and to promote proper circulation of both Qi and blood.

Sweet herbs are used for nourishing deficiency, harmonizing other herbs or to reduce the toxicity of another herb, to relieve pain and to slow down the progression of acute diseases.

Sour herbs constrict, obstruct and solidify. They can stop sweating, diarrhea, seminal emission and also stop leucorrhea.

Salty herbs are used to lubricate the intestines, and to drain them downward. They are used to treat constipation or diseases like goitre.

Bitter herbs are used to reduce fevers, and to induce bowel movements. They also reduce hot sensations and can redirect Qi. They are also used to nourish the kidneys and to treat diseases that are deemed to be “damp”.

Herbs move in 4 different directions within the body. They can move up towards the head, down towards the lower limbs or inward toward the zang-fu organs. They can also move outward towards the superficial regions of the body.

Every herb has a corresponding meridian or more than one meridian to which it responds to. An example is the herb Gou Teng it corresponds to the liver meridian and is used to treat liver diseases.

Researchers in Texas have tested the effectiveness of Chinese herbs on arthritis pain including that of rheumatoid arthritis and have found herbs to be effective, namely the extracts of the roots of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF).

In Geneva Switzerland it was reported that the World Health Organization came out in support of using wormwood to combat malaria. The Chinese people have been using wormwood for over 2000 years and have found it to be life-saving against Malaria.

Doctors in London England have concluded that 10 different herbs when used as a mixture are effective at treating dermatitis. The conclusion was drawn from a study that had been conducted at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

A report from the University of Exeter by Dr. Ernst states that there are certain herbs that is safe to use such as camomile, garlic, Ginkgo biloba, peppermint, sabal, saw palmetto and St. John’s wort. He specifically mentioned that St. John’s wort has fewer side effects than the synthetic antidepressants used in western medicine.